Chain-tool.



T. C. LUCE.

CHAIN TOOL. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 25, I9I5.

Patented June 1,1915.

. grips; although hieLsw.

enemas c. men, or stairs-can,

NEW "1033.351.

GOIi'NEGTICUT, ASSZGNOR 1W3 AMER/18th? GHEQZEBI COMFANY, IZQCORPORATED, O3? BBIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, E.

GOHEQHATIQN or CHAIN-TOOL.

To all whom it may concern e Be it known that 1, THOMAS C. Loon, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and resident of Stratford, Fairfield county, State of Con de a certain new and 'usenecticut, have ma ful Invention Relating to Chain-Tools, of which the following is a specification, taken inconnection with the accompanying draw-- ing, which forms part of the same.

This invention relates especially to tools for the construction or repair of chaintir'e of course adapted for use in connection with other chain or wire devices where it is desirable to openandclose links or the like. I

In the accompanying drawings showing in a somewhat diagrammatic way an illustrative embodiment of: this invention, Figure 1 is an elevation of the tool in its substantially open position. Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken substantially alongthe line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective at a minimum of expense view showing the tool acting as a hook opener; and Fig. 4a shows its action in closing a tread chain attaching hook.

As shown in the illustrative embodiment of the invention which is indicated i the drawing the tool may comprise two closing jaws 1, 2 which may have operating handles of any desired descriptiomsuch as the integral handles .3, 4, each jaw and connected handle being preferably formed of {sheet steel of substantially uniform thickness and practicallv flat throughout, except that if desired parts of the handle may be bent inengage the other handle-fend positively prevent undesirable inward movement. In this way the parts of the tool may be very readily stamped out of sheets of tool steel or any other suitable material, the jaws being preferably given ample area ad acent their piv otal portions so as to secure in this waythe desired degree of alinemeiit without any specially accurate fitting. The pivot connectionof the jaws may be conveniently secured by an ordinary pivot or bolt 5 preferably having a washer 6 and serving to hold J the jaws in substantial alinement under opbe prosons type, for instance, and to close the at- Specification of Letters fatent.

, the wedging jaw 8 enters Application filed Harch 25, 1915. Serial No. 163%.

down on the side chains so as tread members in position. I device preferably comprises lapping we ging opening jaws having a scissors action so that their lapping points have meeting faces which are in the same plane and can thus wedge between the pertaching hooks to secure the The openin tions ofthe attaching hook and open the same. It is of advantage in this connection to have at least one wedging opening aw, such as 8, in which the point of jaw has considerable height perpendicular to the meeting wedging portions while of this wedging jaw is quite narrow as indicated in Fig. 1 and gradually widens or flares away from the point so as to engage to best advantage the bent ends of these attaching hooks and wedge them away from the shanks of the hooks. Under these circumstances, the cooperating jaw may a d stinctively alining action andcan with advantage be given more of a duck bill form so as to have a lower and wider point as in dicated in Fig. 2 and more rapidly increase in height as it flares away this jaw. As indicated in Fig. 3 the points of these opening jaws are inserted in one of these attaching hooks 13 so that the alining jaw 7 cooperates with the double loop portion of the attaching hook and rests on one of the links 15 of the side chain while the comparatively sharp or narrow point ct between the bent ends 12 of the attaching hook and its shank, so that the forcible closure of the jaws by means of the lever handles which may be given an desired length readil wedges open the hook which assumes the somewb inclined position indicated in Fig. 3, its attaching end connected to the cross chain 111 being turned somewhat toward the socket 10. The closing device for closing these attaching hooks and time securing theconnected tread chains-i i to one of side chains 15 of the grip may with advanta ge comprise a pair of gripping sockets, such as 11 whose outer sides may consist of the inner of the wedging opening jaws so that in operation these faces of the opening jaws act as wedgiii g retainers, fdreing laterally aline'inefnt any part of the hook which tends t 'g t mitof-alinement while the hook is being orced together in the other direction the the extreme points have 1 from the point oi during the closed operation. It is also desirable in this connection f to form one of these closingsockets with an oflset'grippin'g portion 10 as by stamping out the adjacent recess 9 so that this gripping portion is con si'derablv ofiset from the other adjacent portions of this jawand provide a corresponding space in which the link of the side chain may lie during the closing operation. In oifset'gripping socket is not this way this only brought into substantial ahnement with the gripping socket 11 on the other jaw 2,but

also makes it possible to engage the attach ing hook nearer im bent portion during the closing operation. These hooks l3 first have their bent ends 12 inserted through one of the links 15 of the side chain and then the hook is inserted in these gripping sockets as indicated in Fig. 4 and the jaws brought forcibly together so as to force the bent ends 12 of the hook into substantial contact with its shank, the hook being, if desired, moved farther into the socket during this operation so as to force the parts entirely home, the wedging retainers meanwhile preventing any possible loss of lateral allnement of the parts, g

This invention has been described in connection with a number of illustrative embodiments, forms, proportions, sizes and materials, details of which disclosure the invention is not of course to be limited, since What is claimed as new and what is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

1. In chain tools adapted for use inopening or closing chain tire grips and so forth, substantially fiat closing jaws each having an integral handle and of substantially the same thickness throughout its entire extent, a pivot connecting said jaws and holding their cooperating faces in substantial aline inent under operating conditions, said jaws having gripping sockets, one of which is offset so as to he in substantial alinement with the gripping socket of the other jaw and project considerably out of the planaof the jaw in which it is formed,'lapping opening jaws extending toward each other beyond said sockets and having substantially fiat meeting faces and inclined edges to form lapping points, one of said opening jaws having a narrow height perpendicular to said meeting faces and having gradually increasing width as it extends away from said point to form a wedging opening jaw and the coiiperating opening jaw having a substantially duck bill flat point and having gradually increasing height away from said meeting faces as it extends away from its point to have an alining action upon the doubled loop portion of an attaching hook.

52. In chain tools adapted for use in openfaces and and arrangements of parts, to the the double loop portion ofpoint of relatively great ing or closing chain tire grips and so forth, substantially fiat closing jaws each having a handle, a pivot connecting said jaws'and hold ing their coiiperating faces in substantial alinement under operating conditions, said flat meeting faces and inclined edges tm form lapping points,- one of jaws having a narrow point of relatively great hei ht perpendicular to said meeting; aving gradually increasing width as it extends away from said point to form a wedging-opening jaw and the cooperating opening jaw having a substantially flat point and having gradually. increasing height away from said meeting faces as it, extends away from its point to have an alining action upon the double loop portion of an attachinghook. a

3 In chain tools adapted for use in open ing or closing chain tire grips and so forth, su stantially fiat pivot portions each hav ing an integral handle and of substantially the same thickness throughout its entire extent, a pivot connecting said pivot portions and holding their cooperating faces in sub stantial alinement under operating conditions; said pivot portionsbeing formed with lapplng opening jaws extending toward each other --'and having substantially flat meeting faces substantially in the plane of the cooperating faces of said pivot portions said opening and inclined edges to form lapplng points, 102

to form a wedging opening havfrom its point to have an alining action upon an attaching hook.

ing or closing chain tire substantially flat pivot. inga handle, a pivot connecting said pivot portions and holding their ,coiiperating faces in substantial alinement under operating conditions, said pivot portions being grips and so forth,

4. In chain tools adapted for use in openportions each havformed with'lapping opening'jaws extending toward each other and having substantially flat Ineeting'faces and inclined edges to form lapping points, one tif -said. opening aws having a narrow point of relatively great height perpendicular to said meeting 39 faces ancl having increasing wiclth as itemiends away from saifi point to form a wedging opening gaw ancl the cooperating open ing jaw having a substantially flat -.17oint end having increasing height awayfroin said meeting faces as it extends away from its point to have an alining action upon the pendioular to said meeting faces and having gradually increasing Width as it extends away from said point to form a Wedging opening jaw and the cooperating opening having a substantially duck bill fiat point and. having gradually increasinghcight away from said meeting-faces as it extends away from its point'and adapted to have ail-aiming action upon the double loop creasing portion of an attaching hook &D& operatin handles connected to said jaws. i

6, in chain tools adapted for use in opening or closing chain tire grips and so forth, ia'ppingopening jaws extending toward each other and having siibstantially fiat meeting faces,.one' of said opening jaws having'ja narrow point of relatively great height pei pendicular to said meeting faces and having increasing width as it extends away from-sai'cl point to form a werlging opening jaw end the coo iei'ating opening jaw l1aving a-.-point and aving gradually i nheight away from said'meeting faces es'it extends away from its point and adapted to have analining action upon the double loop portion of an attaching hook -z 1n i operating handles connected -to said aws.

; THOMAS o. LUGE.

Witnesses: v

WALTER B. LASHAR, WM. (L ETTERSHANK. 

